Drawer fabricating apparatus



I DRAWER FABRICATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

ES EL V/A/ L/LLYWH/TE MAL/044577 1 72455276:

Feb. 28, 1967 E. LILLYWHITE 3,306,324

DRAWER FABRICATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1967E. LILLYWHITE DRAWER FABRICATING APPARATUS Filed Au 28, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Rm & s O/ V M r 5 EW PEN VY E52 2 u A 1 H 4 a N m n I W WF myw S 7 E M f v 8 5 w My United States Patent 3,306,324 DRAWERFABRICATING APPARATUS Estelvin Lillywhite, 2523 East 3150 South, SaltLake City, Utah 84109 Filed Aug. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 392,772 4 Claims.(1. 1443) This invention relates to a drawer fabricating apparatus and,more particularly, to a drawer fabricating apparatus which ischaracterized by the fact that it will cut and shape the front, back andsides of a drawer during a single traverse of said front, sidesand backthrough said apparatus so that the drawer may be completely assembledwithout the necessity for the utilization of auxiliary fasteners.

It is well know to those skilled in the art that drawers for furniture,cabinets and the like are customarily fabricated by the utilization ofvarious types of woodworking tools and it is necessary to handle thecomponent parts such as the front, back and sides, of the drawers beingfabricated repeatedly, in order that the necessary cuts can be formedtherein.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a drawerfabricating apparatus which is characterized by the fact that it iscapable of providing all the necessary cuts in the components of adrawer, so that the drawer may be completely assembled after the front,back and sides thereof have been put through the apparatus of myinvention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a drawer fabricatingapparatus which is characterized by the incorporation of cutting andshaping means adapted to sequentially form mortise and tenon joints inthe front, back and extremities of the sides of a drawer, and grooves inthe front, back and sides of said drawer so that said sides, front andback and associated bottom may be operatively associated with each otherwithout the necessity for the utilization of auxiliary fastening means.

An additional object of my invention is the provision of a drawerfabricating apparatus of the aforementioned character which is designedto form double mortise and tenon joints in the front, back and oppositeextremities of the sides of a drawer so that said front, back and sidesmay be translated sequentially through the apparatus and the doublemortise and tenon joints formed therein without the necessity for theutilization of auxiliary sawing or cutting means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus ofthe aforementioned character which includes saw means adapted to providecorresponding grooves in the front, back and sides of a drawer in orderthat the respective portions of the bottom of the drawer may be receivedin said grooves.

An additional object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus ofthe aforementioned character which incorporates a plurality of shapersand associated saw means, said shapers being adapted to cut mortises andtenons in the extermities of the front, back and sides of the drawer,said apparatus also incorporates saw means adapted to cut grooves in thelower edges of said front, back and sides to facilitate the reception ofthe respective portions of the bottom of the drawer in said grooves.

A further object of my invention is the incorporation in the apparatusof adjustment means adapted to facilitate the adjustment of the shapermeans incorporated in the apparatus so that mortise and tenon joints ofpredetermined sizes and depths may be formed therein.

Another object of my invention is the provision of adjustment meansope-ratively connected to the saw means of the invention and adapted tocompletely retract or adjust said saw means in order that the saw meansmay be rendered inoperative during the cutting of the mortise and tenonjoints in the front, back and sides of the drawer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings, which are for thepurpose of illustration only, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing an apparatus constructed inaccordance with the teachings of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view illustrating a typical drawer fabricated bythe utilization of the apparatus of the invention;

-FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating an adjustment meansfor the saws incorporated in the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a partly sectional, end elevational view of the adjustmentmeans illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a typicaldrawer fabricated by the utilization of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the brokenline 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the brokenline 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the brokenline 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the brokenline 99 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional vew taken on the brokenline 1010 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the brokenline 1111 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view showing the adjustment means for the shapersand saw means of the apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the broken line 1313 ofFIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the broken line 14 14of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the brokenline 1515 of FIG. 14; and,

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the brokenline 16-16 of FIG. 12.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 12 and 5 thereof, Ishow an apparatus 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of myinvention and including a substantially rectangular frame 12 supportinga bed 14. The apparatus 10 may be utilized in fabricating a wide varietyof different types of furniture components but is particularly adaptedfor utilization in fabricating the components of a drawer 16 such asthat illustrated generally in FIG. 2 and specifically in FIG. 5 of thedrawings.

The drawer 16 includes a front 18, a back 20, sides 22 and a bottom 24.The component parts of the drawer 16 and, particularly, the front, backand sides thereof, are maintained in operative relationship with eachother by double mortise and tenon joints 26 which are best illustratedin FIG. 5 of the drawings and which are characterized by the provisionof two tenons 28 and two mortises 30 at each joint adapted to receivesaid tenons, as best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. In adidtion, thefront, back and sides of the drawer 16 incorporate grooves 32 adjacentthe lower edges thereof which are adapted to receive the correspondingedges of the bottom 24 of the drawer.

The apparatus 10 is constructed and designed to shape and cut the front18, back 20 and sides 22 of the drawer 16 in such a manner as to createthe double tenon joints 26 and grooves 32 in said front, back and sidesin order that a complete drawer may be fabricated in the apparatus 10without the utilization of auxiliary woodworking tools, as is necessarywith conventional expedients.

Mounted for rotation .on a spindle 34, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 ofthe drawings, is a compound shaper 36, said shaper being adapted to forma lip 38 on the drawer front 18 and being adapted, also, to bevel theopposite extremities of said drawer front. Of course, the dual shaper 36may also be utilized to provide a lip on a cabinet door or similararticle. Associated with the dual shaper 36 is a fence or guide means 42which is adapted to guide the drawer front 18 as it is subjected to theshaping action of the dual shaper 36.

A sheave 44 is secured to the lower extremity of the spindle 34 and hasa belt 46, as best shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, entrained thereuponand said belt is driven by an electric motor 48 to cause correspondingrotation of the dual shaper 36. The spindle 34 may be mounted in anyconventional type of mount such as the pillow block 52 shownschematically in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

From the dual shaper 36, the drawer front 18 is engaged simultaneouslywith a shaper 56 and saw 58, said shaper and saw 56 and 58,respectively, being driven by the electric motor 48 and being adapted toform the mortises 30 in the drawer front 18. Fences or guide means 62are provided which are associated with the shaper 56 and saw means 58 toguide the drawer front in its passage across the shaper 56 and saw means58.

Each extremity of the drawer front 18 can be engaged upon the dualshaper 36 and shaper 56 and saw means 58 to form the corresponding cutsin each extremity of the drawer front 18.

Saw means 78 is located downstream from the shaper 56 and saw means 58to form the groove 32 in the back of the drawer front 18 for receivingthe forward extremity of the bottom 24 of the drawer 16 and a fence orguide means 82 is associated with the saw means 78 to facilitate thelongitudinal movement of the drawer front 18 into operative engagementwith saw means 78. The saw means 78 is driven from the electric motor 48by a conventional belt and sheave combination indicated generally at 84in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

Located at the opposite extremity of the bed 14 is a shaper 86 which isadapted to form a bevel 88 on the upper edge of each side 22 of thedrawer 16, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 11 of the drawings. Associatedwith the shaper 86 is a fence or guide means 92 adapted to guide thesides 22 of the drawer 16 as they are translated transversely of the bed14 of the apparatus 10.

Mounted adjacent fence or guide means 94 is a dual shaper 96 andassociated saw means 98 which, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 of thedrawings are adapted to cut tenons 28 and mortises 30 in the oppositeextremities of the sides 22 of the drawer 16. The shaper 86 is driven,as best shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, by an electric motor 102through a sheave and belt drive 104. The dual shaper 96 is driven, asbest shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, by a belt and sheave drive 106from the shaper 86 while the saw means 98 is driven by a belt and sheavedrive 108.

Mounted adjacent fence or guide means 112 is saw means 114 which, asbest shown in FIGS. 1 and of the drawings, is adapted to fabricate thegrooves 32 in the drawer sides 22 adjacent the lower edges thereof forthe reception of the associated edges of the bottom 24 of the drawer 16.

Illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings is adjustment means 120 forutilization in conjunction with any one of the saw means 78 and 114 topermit the location of the saw means to be adjusted to determine thelocation of the grooves 32 formed thereby. The adjustment means 120includes a pair of lead screws 122, which engage corresponding nuts 124supporting a transversely movable table 126. Secured to the uppersurface of the table 126 is a pillow block 128 for the spindle 130 ofthe saw means 7 8. Sprockets 132 are secured to the outer extremities ofthe lead screws 122 and have a drive chain 134 entrained thereupon.Therefore, when a handle 136 is rotated, the sprockets 132 and theassociated lead screws 122 will be correspondingly rotated to causecorresponding inward or outward movement of the table 126 and the pillowblock 128 mounted thereupon, which, of course, results in correspondingmovement of the associated saws 78.

Illustrated in FIGS. 12 through 16 of the drawings are variousadjustment means for the shapers and saw means incorporated in theapparatus 10 and for the fence or guide means associated with saidshapers and saw means, For instance, there is illustrated in schematicplan form in FIG. 12 of the drawings an adjustment means 140 for the sawmeans 58 and a corresponding adjustment means 142 for the shaper 56.Also illustrated is adjustment means 144 for fence or guide means 146associated with a shaper so that when the position of the shaper isadjusted, the fence or guide means 146 can be correspondingly adjustedwith reference to the bed 14 of the apparatus 10.

The adjustment means 140 of the saw means 58 includes a supportingbracket 152 pivotally mounted on a rod 154. Bodily withdrawal of the sawmeans 58 from the associated opening 59 in the bed 14 can beaccomplished by merely raising or lowering the bracket 152 by pivotingit upon the associated supporting rod 154. This is accomplished bymoving a knob 156 in a corresponding slot 158.

Raising or lowering the saw means 58 upon the bracket 152 to adjust itin the opening 59 is accomplished by rotation of lea-d screws 164, whichare rotated by a crank 166 and are engaged in nuts 168 secured to thepillow block 172 for the saw means 58.

Lateral adjustment of the saw means 58 is accomplished by rotating theknob 156 which rotates a threaded rod 174 in a corresponding nut 176secured to the pillow block 172. Therefore, the location of the sawmeans 58 with reference to the edges of the opening 59 in the bed 14 canbe adjusted.

The adjustment means for the fence or guide means 146 is illustrated inFIG. 13 of the drawings as including a rotatable knob 178 adapted torotate rod 182 having a threaded extremity 184 engaged in a nut 186which is secured to a bracket 188. Bracket 188 has its upper extremityoperatively secured to the fence or guide means 146 and is adapted toshift said fence or guide means with reference to an associated opening192 in the table 14. Therefore, the location of the fence 146 withreference to the bed or table 14 of the apparatus 10 can be adjusted tocontrol the depth of cuts made by the saw means or shapers incorporatedin the drawer fabricating apparatus 10.

The adjustment means 142 for a typical shaper 56 permits the shaper 56to be moved laterally with respect to the bed 14 upon a carriage 202which is slidable on ways 204 by means of a linkage 206 which includes abell crank 208 controlled by a vertically movable knob 210. The bellcrank 208 is connected by a link 212 to the carriage 202 and upward ordownward movement of the knob 210 with reference to an elongated slot222 will cause corresponding up or downward movement of the bell crank208 to locate the carriage 202 with reference to the bed 14 of theapparatus 10.

It is possible, therefore, by the utilization of the apparatus 10 of myinvention, to fabricate all of the components of the drawer 16 bypassing successively through the apparatus 10 and it is not necessary toutilize auxiliary woodworking tools of any kind. Of course, while I havenot described automatic means for causing the movement of the variouscomponents of the drawer 16 through the apparatus 10 it would, ofcourse, be obvious to those skilled in the art that by the utilizationof automatic conveyors the various components of the drawer 16 may betranslated through the apparatus 10 with a facility equal to that withwhich a worker may cause such components to be translated through theapparatus 10.

I claim:

1. A drawer fabricating apparatus comprising an elongated bed; jectthrough the bed and is mounted on a horizontal first guide means; axisbeneath the bed. a first pair of shapers for forming mortises inselected 3. A drawer forming apparatus according toclaim 1,

pieces of drawer material, said first pair of shapers further includingcomprising a first rotary cutting member above the 5 a pair of otherguide means extending substantially bed and mounted on a vertical axisextending upendwise to the first and second guide means; wardly throughsaid bed; and a second rotary memadditional rotary cutting members eachhaving a cutber having a cutting edge adapted to extend upwardly tingedge adapted to extend upwardly through the through the bed and mountedon a horizontal axis bed, with one being arranged adjacent to each ofthe beneath the bed, said first and second rotary cutting 10 other guidemeans, whereby longitudinal grooves for members being arranged such thatthey cut into maa drawer bottom are cut into each piece of materialmoved along the first guide means with crossing terial moved from thefirst and second guide means cuts, to thereby form a pair of mortisesextending at along the adjacent other guide means; and right angles toone another; means for driving the said additional rotary cutting asecond guide means; members. a second pair of sha-pers for formingtenons in other 4. A drawer forming apparatus according to claim 3,

pieces of drawer material, said second pair of shapers further includingcomprising third and fourth spaced rotary cutters means for adjustingthe position of each of the guide mounted on a single axis and a fifthrotary cutter means on the top of the bed parallel to the axes ofmounted on a separate axis, said fifth rotary cutter the rotary cuttingmembers having a cutting edge being arranged with respect to said thirdand fourth adapted to project through the bed; and rotary cutters to Cutinto material m0ved al g the means for adjusting the position of each ofthe rotary Second guide means a Spaced distance from the maXicuttingmembers vertically, longitudinally, and transmum depth of cuts made inthe material by the said versely with respect to the bed. third andfourth cutters, the material between the third and fourth cutters andbetween the fourth and References Cited by the Examiner fifth cuttersthereby fotrming tenons extending at UNITED STATES PATENTS right anglesto one anot er; and power means for driving said first and secondshapers. 2 2232 et :22 Wh2e.re1iXn drawer forming apparatus accordlng toclaim 1, 2,616,459 11/1952 Johnson 144 203 X the third and fourth rotarycutters are positioned above 3008501 11/1961 Hammer 144 3 :23 amextendmg upwardly thmugh WILLIAM w. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

the fifth rotary cutter has a cutting edge adapted to pro- W. D. BRAY,Assistant Examiner.

1. A DRAWER FABRICATING APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BED; FIRSTGUIDE MEANS; A FIRST PAIR OF SHAPERS FOR FORMING MORTISES IN SELECTEDPIECES OF DRAWER MATERIAL, SAID FIRST PAIR OF SHAPERS COMPRISING A FIRSTROTARY CUTTING MEMBER ABOVE THE BED AND MOUNTED ON A VERTICAL AXISEXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID BED; AND A SECOND ROTARY MEMBER HAVING ACUTTING EDGE ADAPTED TO EXTEND UPWARDLY THROUGH THE BED AND MOUNTED ON AHORIZONTAL AXIS BENEATH THE BED, SAID FIRST AND SECOND ROTARY CUTTINGMEMBERS BEING ARRANGED SUCH THAT THEY CUT INTO MATERIAL MOVED ALONG THEFIRST GUIDE MEANS WITH CROSSING CUTS, TO THEREBY FORM A PAIR OF MORTISESEXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO ONE ANOTHER; A SECOND GUIDE MEANS; A SECONDPAIR OF SHAPERS FOR FORMING TENONS IN OTHER PIECES OF DRAWER MATERIAL,SAID SECOND PAIR OF SHAPERS COMPRISING THIRD AND FOURTH SPACED ROTARYCUTTERS MOUNTED ON A SINGLE AXIS AND A FIFTH ROTARY CUTTER MOUNTED ON ASEPARATE AXIS, SAID FIFTH ROTARY CUTTER BEING ARRANGED WITH RESPECT TOSAID THIRD AND FOURTH ROTARY CUTTERS TO CUT INTO MATERIAL MOVED ALONGTHE SECOND GUIDE MEANS A SPACED DISTANCE FROM THE MAXIMUM DEPTH OF CUTSMADE IN THE MATERIAL BY THE SAID THIRD AND FOURTH CUTTERS, THE MATERIALBETWEEN THE THIRD AND FOURTH CUTTERS AND BETWEEN THE FOURTH AND FIFTHCUTTERS THEREBY FORMING TENONS EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO ONE ANOTHER;AND POWER MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SHAPERS.